Here you can easily see all of the newest arrivals for the 2012 season. They will be posted as they arrive, so check back often to see what is coming in the 2012 Heirloom Seeds catalog. Most will be in the catalog, but there always seems to be a few that don't quite make it in time to be in the catalog, but they will be here!
We have hand selected these varieties and new products- some from customer requests, some from our mentor's suggestions, and some from our experiences, grow-outs and equipment that we have used successfully. A few are the results of several years of traditional plant breeding.
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The Mini Bottle Gourd produces small dumbbell or hourglass shaped gourds with a larger bulb on the bottom and a smaller one on top. They are usually 1 1/2 to 6 in. in height and used as baby rattles in Southeast Asia. Great for smaller craft or art projects, ornaments, small bowls or vases.
120 days
Approx 20 seeds per pack
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In Stock
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Acoma Rattle Gourd is originally from the Acoma Pueblo of New Mexico. Considered the earliest known domesticated plant. Large round gourds used for ceremonial rattles and for crafts. 8 in. wide, 3-4 in. tall, no neck.
200 days
Certified Organic
Approx 15 seeds per pack
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Tender finger-like ears, delicately flavored, entirely edible, best harvested within 5 days of the appearance of silks, makes delicious snacks, used in stir fries and for pickles.
Each stalk makes 4-6 "good quality" baby ears and then if they aren't picked as babies they make great popcorn when dried.
Certified Organic
65 days
Approx 125 seeds per pack
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Espelette Pepper (Piment d'Espelette or Ezpeletako bipera) is the treasured chile of the Basque country, known for its robust and slightly smoky flavor. Some chiles are given treasured status, where they are celebrated in art, the kitchen, and festivals. The Espelette Pepper has become a cultural and culinary icon in the Basque country where it has gained controlled-name status.
Plant is from 2-5 ft. tall, has good yields of more aromatic and sweet than hot peppers maturing from green to a deep red, usually from 15-30 per plant.
To be known as "Piment d'Espelette", the chile must be grown, harvested and dried according to specific cultural traditions in the area around Espelette. Best used dried for its treasured powder.
Certified Organic
80-90 days
Approx 40 seeds per pack
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Papaya Squash or Papaya Pumpkin Squash, an incredibly smooth and thick fleshed, sweet and nutty flavored papaya shaped squash that is gorgeous and vibrant yellow. Ideal for stuffing.One of the most popular Asian winter squashes but unknown here. Vining plants bear abundant 2-4 lb. squash that keep well.
Great winter squash variety for home gardens and market growers.
Certified Organic
90 days
Approx 25 seeds per pack
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Super Sioux was bred by the University of Nebraska Experimental Station for better production during hot weather, taste and disease resistance. Since its introduction, has become well known as an outstanding hot weather tomato. Plants are regular leafed, open, medium sized with average leaf cover.
Produces large amounts of smooth, crack-free, juicy thick walled round fruit around 4 oz. in size. Taste is more old fashioned with a notable acid "bite", but not overpowering. Great choice for home gardening and market growing due to the long production season.
Approx 45 seeds per pack
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Jack Be Little, or Little Sweetie Pumpkin has small but very vigorous vines that produce 8 to 20 delightful miniature pumpkins per plant. 2 in. tall and 3-6 in. diameter, weighing 3-8 oz each, these flattened deeply ribbed fruits have deep orange-red rind and flesh. They are delicious, but used mostly as seasonal decorations. Storage life is up to 12 months when cured fully on the vine.
Their smaller size carries over to the growing space as well. Grows well on fences, trellises or in pots from balconies or decks. Easily trained to grow up a fence or trellis. Storage is easy- let them hang out on your counter, porch or pantry untill you are ready to decorate or eat them. Scrumptious baked, just cut the cap off, scrape out the seeds, season, re-cap and bake. Serve individual mini-pumpkins to your dinner guests who will be impressed with the novelty and flavor!
85-110 Days
Approx 25 seeds per pack
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Musquée de Provence, or Fairytale, a gorgeous French heirloom pumpkin grows to about 20lbs and is deeply ribbed. Mottled forest green fruit will ripen to a rich bronze color with deep orange flesh. Rich, firm flesh of exceptional quality for cooking and baking; stores well. Originated in the south of France, introduced to the US by Vaughan's Seed Store of Chicago in 1899.
In Provence, France, these pumpkins are sold by the slice - for eating. Cut from the middle like a wedge of cheese and sliced thinly, the flavor is complex, sweet with a light crunch.
120 Days
Approx 25 seeds per pack
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Golden Zucchini Squash is an easy to grow 3-4 ft tall bush plant bearing bright-golden, medium long and slender cylindrical fruits best when picked 6-8 in long. Excellent flavor, fruit is creamy white inside. Great for gardens with limited space.
A versatile summer treat from your garden, not as productive as the green zucchinis but with more flavor. Side dress with fertilizer when fruits form to increase yield.
50-55 Days
Approx 25 seeds per pack
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Table Queen Bush Acorn Squash is a runnerless true bush type with plants 36 in. diameter. Loads of green, deeply ribbed, acorn-shaped fruits similar in all respects to Table Queen, but with a smaller footprint in the garden.
3-8 fruits per plant, 5 x 4 in., very productive in a small space, fair keeper, widely adapted, orange flesh cooks dry and sweet. Great winter squash variety for home gardens and market growers.
80-95 days
Approx 25 seeds per pack
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The Waltham Butternut Squash is one of the most popular butternuts, uniform shape and size, good interior texture and color, 8-12 x 3-5 in., weighing 3-6 lbs., smooth light tan skin, thicker cylindrical necks, small seed cavity, rich dry yellowish orange flesh, nutty flavor, vigorous vines, high yields, stores great.
As it ripens, turns a deep orange and becomes sweeter and richer. For best keeping, harvest after vines have died, or vine slips from squash. Great baked, steamed, broiled, mashed and in pies. Has thick rich sweet orange flesh and is a favorite winter squash. Excellent for home and market growers.
83-115 days
Approx 25 seeds per pack
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Purple Plum Radish is very unusual with bright purple to burgundy skin, firm white flesh, crisp, sweet and mild all season, never pithy or hot, hardy and adaptable. Plum-shaped roots with dark green full-bodied leaves.
25-30 days
Approx 300 seeds per pack
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Armenian Pale Green Cucumber, or Armenian Burpless Cucumber, Yard Long, Guta, Snake or Serpent Cucumber. Tender skin never needs peeling, never bitter and are burpless. Very good for a humid climate. Introduced from Armenia to Italy in the1400s. Hard to find, but are one of the best-regarded slicing cucumbers. They can be sliced thin and used to stir-fry or Asian soups for an tasty change.
Very productive of light-green, distinctive heavily ribbed fruit that will grow 24-36 in. x 3-4 inch diameter, best flavor at 12-18 inches. Mild flavor, easily digested-skin and all, fluted slices, prolific, twists and turns on ground, hangs fairly straight from trellis.
50-75 days
Approx 35 seeds per pack
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Parisian Pickle Cucumber or Improved Bourbonne is a fine French heirloom gherkin that makes excellent pickles when picked small. Selected for the cooler northern climate of Paris since the late 1800s for gherkins, or small pickles. Also a good slicer when slightly larger. Introduced in the US around 1892 by James J. H. Gregory of Marblehead, Massachusetts.
Very reliable, early and productive cucumber with lots of tiny crisp fruits.
60 days
Approx 35 seeds per pack
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In Stock
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Black Beauty Eggplant is the classic eggplant that is the standard by which large eggplant are measured. Very productive and early, uniform ripening made this the eggplant of choice by market growers and home gardeners. Introduced in 1902 by W. Atlee Burpee. Best used fresh, just after harvesting.
Bushy spreading 24-30 in. plant with 4-6 in. purplish black smooth oval 6.5 x 5 in. diameter fruit, blunt & broad at blossom end, retains color well, 1-3 lbs., holds well, high quality, fine flavor, yields well in the North if the season is long.
72-85 days
Approx 25 seeds per pack
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New Zealand Spinach is not a true spinach but similar in flavor and use. It is also known as tetragonia, ice plant, everbearing spinach, everlasting spinach and perpetual spinach.This warm season green is good for summer salads, as it thrives in hot weather, won't bolt or get bitter. A New Zealand native that was first brought to Europe by Captain Cook in the 1770s after he discovered it to be a valuable source of vitamin C.
A tender annual, it grows 1-2 ft tall and spreads 1-3 ft wide. Leaves are triangular and succulent. Will reseed if allowed, makes a great edible border. Very robust, tolerates drought, insects, salt and poor soil. Pick the 4" tips of branches all summer and fall.
50-70 days
Approx 100 seeds per pack
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Little Gem Lettuce, or Sucrine, is a midget lettuce often described as 'a combination of Butter and Romaine'. A refined Dark Boston type with 4-5 in. tightly wrapped heads with bright green leaves, a pale yellow heart that is sweet and crunchy with a superb flavor described as nutty with a reserved sweetness.
Heat tolerant conical heads can be planted 6 inches apart for more production in smaller gardens. The perfect salad for 2- simply cut in half and drizzle with a vinaigrette of your choice.
45-50 days
Head lettuce
Approx 100 seeds per pack
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Freckles Lettuce, AKA Flashy Troutback is a beautiful tender heat and sun tolerant romaine, having green leaves splashed with red. Long standing, resembles Speckles butterhead but with more substantial leaves. This heirloom lettuce variety dates back to Austria in 1793. The Austrian description is close to "trout lettuce", describing it's speckled coloration.
Thrives in warm climates with fertile soil and moderate rain or irrigation. Because of its sun and heat tolerance, this slow-bolting variety is a great choice for warmer gardens in the summer.
55-70 days
Romaine lettuce
Approx 300 seeds per pack
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Jericho Lettuce is a desert adapted variety bred in Israel with smooth sword shaped bright green upright leaves with a silky texture. Does well in dry and hot climates and stays sweet and crispy despite the heat. Surprisingly, is also a superior lettuce in cooler seasons.
Extremely bolt resistant while keeping its sweet, tender and crisp characteristics. A great cut and come again variety. Home gardeners love it for smaller leaves and whole heads in warmer climates.
60-70 days
Romaine lettuce
Approx 300 seeds per pack
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Paris White Cos Lettuce, also known as Romaine Blonde Marachier was grown in Europe since at least 1835. Grown as one of the classic romaine types, "generally considered the best" in the 1901 E. J. Bowen seed catalog.
Large cylindrical upright plant, tight 8-10 in. tall self folding conical head, light green outer leaves, strong midribs, white self-blanched heart, great flavor, slightly savoyed. Does well in Northern climates for garden or market, pre-1868 variety.
50-83 days
Romaine lettuce
Approx 300 seeds per pack
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In Stock
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